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United States Patent | 6,214,487 |
Kelley ,   et al. | April 10, 2001 |
A membrane electrode assembly consists of a polymer electrolyte membrane (100) with an electrode on each side. The polymer electrolyte membrane has an integral sensor (115) disposed on the surface. The sensor monitors the physical, thermal, chemical or electrical state of the membrane electrode assembly. Information obtained from the sensor is used to identify a defective membrane electrode assembly, and the operation of the fuel cell is altered based on the identified defective membrane electrode assembly.
Inventors: | Kelley; Ronald J. (Coral Springs, FL); Mulligan; Robert J. (Lauderhill, FL); Pratt; Steven D. (Plantation, FL); Muthuswamy; Sivakumar (Plantation, FL); Landreth; Bobby Dean (Fort Lauderdale, FL); Pennisi; Robert W. (Boca Raton, FL) |
Assignee: | Motorola, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL) |
Appl. No.: | 241190 |
Filed: | February 1, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 429/23 |
Intern'l Class: | H01M 008/04 |
Field of Search: | 429/12,13,18,22-25,27,40-42,61-62,90-93,101 |
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